John peter schmitz



(No Model.)l

, J. P. SCHMITZ. 'MEANS FOR ABSTRAGTING PREGIUUS METALS FROM GRES. No. 577,787.

Patented Feb. 23, 1897.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT4 OFFICE.

JOHN PETER SCHMITZ, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MEANS FOR ABSTRACTING PRECIOUS METALS FROM ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,787, dated February 23, 1897.

Application flied March 30, 1896.

To all whom it may con/cern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN PETER SCHMITZ, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Means for Abstracting Precious Metals from Ores by an Amalgamation and Alloy Process; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention is embodied in theconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical central .section of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the feedpipe, the hopper being removed. Fig. 4 is a top view of one of the strainers. Fig. 5 is an edge view of two strainers placed one upon the other. y

A, Fig. l, indicates the box or casing of the apparatus, which constitutes an amalgamating-box, B a feed-pipe, and C strainers arranged within the casing or boX A, one upon another. The hood or dome-like top D of the casingAhas an opening d at one side, from the lower edge of which opening depends an inclined lip or flange d, forming a chute. The opening d serves for egress of ore, placer ground, or sand, and the same slides down the chute d. At a point opposite the opening d two air-inlet pipes E are arranged. At the bottom of the boX or casing A an outlet-pipe F, having a cock f, is provided.

A rod I-I, Fig. l, passes vertically and centrally through the strainers C and is stepped in a support g', fixed on the bottom of the casing A. At the point Where the rod G passes through and is journaled in the dome D it is cylindrical, but where it passes through the strainers C it is polygonal or fiat, so that it is adapted to rotate freelyin the domeD and step g, but carries the strainers C with it in its rotation. A funnel H is secured at h onto At its end bS is pinned Serial No. 585,502. (No model.)

rately covering the opening of pipe B in headpiece or ring b. The cover I, leverage-rod t', and solid ball t" are in one piece, so that in taking hold of the outer end of rod t' the cover I can be pushed off the head-piece or ring b and then rests on projection 192.

K, Fig. 7, is a toothed wheel fastened on the iiat iron rod G. The iron rod 'i2 acts as a pusher or paWI, being in connection with. said wheel and leverage-rod t', so that when the cover I is pushed back and forward the wheel turns a part of a revolution, and thereby rotates the straners C, Fig. 4., correspondingly and stirring the contents of tube or box A.

In the use of this my improved invention the operation is as follows: Having set up the apparatus, as described, the 'tube orI box A, pipe B, strainers C, and hood D, in proper position, the tube or box A is filled nearly full with quicksilver. Then the crushed. ore, placer-ground gravel, or sand containing the gold is thrown into pipe B through funnel H, the cover I being previously pushed aside, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2. When pipe B is nearly full of ,ore or sand, the cover I is pushed back and over the top opening of pipe B, closing it air-tight, the solid ball t" acting as a weight on the cover. Then from an airpulnp connected with pipe L compressed air is forced through pipe L and into pipe B. The compressed air forces the ore or sand in pipe B downward and out of the lower opening of this pipe, when, on account of difference of natural gravity between quicksilver, ore, and sand, aswell as the force of the cornpressed air, said ore or sand quickly percolates upward through the quicksilver and strainers and floats on top of the Quicksilver just below the hood D, but it has parted with its gold,which has united with the quicksilver. At the same time from an air-pump connected with pipes E E compressed air is forced through these pipes, thereby blowing the ore or sand away and out of the opening d at hood D. Said ore or sand rolling down on chute d is deprived of its gold. The operation is repeated with fresh ore or sand,which can be done very quickly.

When a large quantity of ore has been worked and the quicksilver is considerably arnalgarnated with gold, or, on the other hand, when the hot melted lead is considerably alloyed with gold, silver, or other metal, then is the,l quicksilver or lead in tube or box A allowed to run off through pipe F. The tube or box A is then refilled With fresh quicksilver or lead, as the case .may be, and the apparatus is ready again for further operations. The precious metals so taken from tube or box A are then separated or abstracted from the amalgam or alloy in the usual manner generally known.

It will be noticed that it is not necessary to have strainers in tube or box A for the ore and air to percolate upward through the quicksilver or hot lead respectively, but I apply the strainers for the purpose of dividing the ore more perfectly, so that each particle gets in contact With the Quicksilver or lead; again, that the ore should not percolate and pass through in lumps.

As shown in Fig. 5, the strainers have notches c and lugs c, which engage and lock them together, so that they are not rotatable individually, and, as Will be observed by inspection of Fig. Leach strainer is so arranged relative to the adjacent ones that its openings or passages do not coincide with theirs. Hence the ore finds a tortuous passage and is agitated and thoroughly mixed when passing up through the strainers.

Having described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with the feeding-pipe. having a lateral arm, of the cover I, and its leverage-rod pivoted to said arm, the pusher i2, attached to such rod, a ratchet, a vertical rod onWhich the latter is fixed, and a series of rotatable strainers attached to said vertical rod, and the tube or box inclosing the strainers, as shown and described.

2. In an amalgamator, the combination, with a tube or box, having a vertical feedpipe, a lateral outlet, an air-pipe connected with the feed-pipe, a pivoted and laterallyslidable cover for said pipe, a Weighted leverage-rod for lholding the cover pressed down upon the pipe While air is being forced in, and strainers arranged substantially as shown and described.

3. In an amalgamator, the combination 0f the feed -tube, ring b, with its projecting arms b', and b2, with feeding-pipe B, funnel H, coverl I, and air-pipe L, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

4t. In an amalgamator, the cover I, having leverage-rod i, and ball 7l', in combination with head-piece or ring b, pusher 'i2 and feeding-pipe B, substantially as and for the purposes shoivn and described.A

JOHN PETER SCHMITZ.

Witnesses:

E. A. ORMsBv, W. D. CoATEs. 

